He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

You only have to be stupid once to be dead permanentlyIACOJ Power Company LiasonWhen trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution
and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy. - Dave Barry.

At 0940 hours this morning the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will observe a moment of silence for those that gave the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001. Sent via EAN F&RD OPERATIONS 07:13 09/11/07

Also I received this in the morning email traffic from the Safety XChange.

Tuesday September 11, 2007

A SOMBER ANNIVERSARY
It was six years ago today that two hijacked passenger planes were deliberately flown into New York City’s World Trade Center towers. As a Canadian, I remember watching my television in fixed horror as the terrible events of that day unfolded. My colleague, Glenn Demby, witnessed the whole thing from his office window on East 21st street in Manhattan, less than three miles from ground zero.

Our world has changed a lot since that Tuesday fall morning in 2001. But in some ways, the world has remained the same. We should all pause for a moment to reflect on the victims and their families. But we also must go about our business and try to learn from the tragedy. With this in mind, today’s issue of SafetyXChange is dedicated to emergency planning.

My posts reflect my views and opinions, not the organization I work for or my IAFF local. Some of which they may not agree. I.A.C.O.J. member
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Co-author of the Second Amendment
during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution, 1788Elevator Rescue Information

Presidential politics loom over this Sept. 11 more than any other anniversary of the attacks.

Firefighters in New York will share the podium with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who many victims' families and firefighters said should not speak this year because he is running for president.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. who is seeking her party's presidential nomination, also plans to attend ceremonies in New York.

New York City's Sept. 11 observance will take place at Zuccotti Park, on Liberty Street between Broadway and Church streets, on Tuesday morning.

The ceremony will officially begin at 8:40 a.m. Families of those who died on Sept. 11 may start arriving at 7 a.m. Responders to the attack and recovery will be reading the names of the victims, while music will provide a backdrop throughout the program. The ceremony will pause at four moments -- twice to mark the times that each plane hit the towers, and twice to mark the times when each tower fell.

The first moment of silence will be at 8:46 a.m., and houses of worship have been asked to toll their bells at that time. While the names are read, family members will be able to descend the ramp single file to a limited area at the lowest level of the site, where they may lay flowers and return to street level.

The ceremony will conclude at approximately 12:30 p.m.

For the first time this year, a victim who did not die at the trade center will be recognized. The city has added the name of an attorney who died of lung disease five months after the attacks to its official list of victims.

This is the first time the anniversary of Sept. 11 is the same day of the week when hijacked planes brought down the World Trade Center.

For Kurt Horning, who lost his 26-year-old son in the attacks, that hits too close to home.

Horning was in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. He said it's never an easy trek to come back for the anniversary ceremony, but he just couldn't do it on a Tuesday.

Cathie Ong's sister was a flight attendant on the first plane that crashed into the Twin Towers. She's in New York today. Ong said it's the only place where people can come to really honor their loved ones.

The ceremony will be familiar -- ringing of bells, a reading of names. But for the first time it's off the World Trade Center site -- moved to a plaza nearby because of the ongoing rebuilding at ground zero.

President George W. Bush is attending a private prayer service at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington and will hold a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates will lead observances at the Pentagon, where there will be a private wreath-laying ceremony for the families of victims of the attack.

An observance at the Arlington County Justice Center Courtyard, 1425 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington, Va., is scheduled to start at 9:15 a.m. A memorial program will include an honor guard, the singing of the national anthem, a moment of silence at 9:37 a.m., and the tolling of a bell 184 times, once for each victim of the attack at the Pentagon.

In Pennsylvania, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be making remarks at a memorial service for the victims of Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, Pa.

Terrorism Fears Remain

Six years after the attacks, national intelligence director Mike McConnell says authorities remain worried about "sleeper cells" of would-be terrorists inside the United States.

He told ABC's "Good Morning America" that "we're safer but we're not safe."

McConnell said plots against the U.S. have been thwarted and officials remain vigilant. But he can make no safety guarantees. He says al-Qaida still "intends to have an operation in the United States that will result in mass casualties."

Meanwhile, the co-chairman of the 9/11 Commission, former Rep. Lee Hamilton, is most worried about a nuclear strike by terrorists that he said the nation is nowhere near being prepared for.

I remember in fire academy that one of our tasks was to pick one of the 343 firefighters killed at 9/11 and do a report on him. We never had to do a report but I still to this day remember the one that I had picked, Michael Mullan from ladder 12. Several years later, I still remember what I had written and the pictures I had seen of him.

For those who dont know any of the ones who were actually lost at 9/11, doing research of those who gave their lives makes it personal... somewhat.

When I am called to duty, God,
Whenever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life,
Whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child
Before it is to late,
Or save an older person from the horror of that fate,
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling, and to give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if according to my fate, I am to lose my life,
Please bless with your protecting hand
My children and my wife.

I was going to make this a different thread, but I suppose it fits in well here.

For some reason, I was up early today. I don't remember why, but it happened. Flipping through the channels, I came across MSNBCs 9/11/01 footage. Not just the "highlights", but the actual coverage, no commercial breaks, no editing, just the way it was, the way it was shown. It REALLY puts the day into perspective for you again. If you have not seen it, I recommend that you watch it replayed again later tonight.
The sheer terror, panic, and uncertaintity of that day is replayed, not just on the TV, but in my own gut. It really brings you back, and makes you think.

This morning early I walked on
while my darling was in a dream
The last sweet days of summer bloomed
and dressed the trees in green
Then soaring high in the gleaming sky
from far across the bay
came a fearsome roar from a distant shore
at the dawning of the day

Then I called my men to follow me
knowing well that the view was dim
Though tired and worn, how they fought all morn'
as time was closing in
And my heart was sad though sore with pride
for brave lads all were they
As the angels fly, how they climbed so high
on the dawning of the day

But the edge is moving nearer now
inside the fading sun
and calling, calling out to them
my brothers, one by one
But only dust silence sounds
The ashes float away
as the twilight ends and the night descends
'til the dawning of the day

Forgive me love, I'm going now
so very far away
When darkness falls, only think me near
and do not be afraid
And please don't grieve when I am gone
Abide in what remains
'til the shadows end and we meet again
on the dawning of the day